Wallace achieves NASCAR milestone

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Darrell Wallace Jr. has piled up accolades usually preceded by the word “youngest,” “fastest” or “first.”

With a win Oct. 26 at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace became the second African-American driver to win a NASCAR national series race. NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Wendell Scott won in 1963.

“We congratulate Darrell Wallace Jr. on his first national series victory, one that will be remembered as a remarkable moment in our sport’s history,” said Brian France, NASCAR CEO. “Darrell’s success, following fellow NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate Kyle Larson’s win earlier this season, is indicative of a youth and multicultural movement that bodes well for NASCAR’s future growth.”

The Concord driver of the No. 54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports is competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors this season.

Wallace raced for Joe Gibbs Racing last year, becoming the first African-American driver to win a pole in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and finishing in the top 10 in three of his four starts.